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Comfortably in lead, Gill takes foot off pedal to protect car
IMBIL, AUSTRALIA: With a comfortable lead at the close of Day One of the International Rally of Queensland, Gaurav Gill has decided to take the foot off the pedal
IMBIL, AUSTRALIA: With a comfortable lead at the close of Day One of the International Rally of Queensland, Gaurav Gill has decided to take the foot off the pedal in the hope of preserving his car and getting to know it better.
The 34-year-old driver from Delhi leads the pack of eight contestants after finishing on top in each of the eight special stages of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship at the Imbil State Forest in Queensland on Saturday.
“I pushed hard in the morning and opened up a good lead so we don’t really need to push the car anymore. We can maintain our rhythm and momentum,” said Gill. He switched from the Skoda S2000 to the Fabia R5 for this season of the APRC, and after winning the opening rally in Whangerai, New Zealand, is competing in his second race in the turbo-charged car.
He was quick to point out that the harsh terrain and unfamiliarity with the vehicle added to the excitement.
“It’s the first time I’m driving the car in these conditions. So it’s obviously a big challenge to understand and learn how the tyres react, how the tyres wear out, and obviously how the engine reacts. It’s been good, but I’m still not 100% confident because we still have to soften the car—it’s still a little stiff right now. We need to have softer springs. That should help us get more traction with the tyres.”
The writer’s trip is sponsored by MRF
